Opalina By Cristina Celestino

Created by Cristina Celestino for Tonelli design, ‘Opalina‘ — a benchmark in Italian glass manufacturing — is a collection of furniture that pushes the definition of ‘opaline’.

“The collection is made of thick etched and painted glass slabs that give a translucent and silky appearance.”Including a dressing table, a writing desk, a mirror, a coat stand, and a stool, the series stands out for the pieces’ joints, rounded volumes, and muted, matt colors. Tonelli design has been manufacturing glass furniture with the hand-bonding technique for over twenty-five years. ‘Opalina’ is not just formal and aesthetic research, though, but cultural too. Calestino says: “Up to the 19th century, the word ëopalineí referred to an off-white, rose color. […] Over the centuries, the use of opaline glass became more sophisticated in terms of colour variations; however, white and pastel pink, blue, and green were the most popular during the early 20th century. With this collection for Tonelli design, the word ‘opaline’ no longer defines just ornaments and giftware, but also glass furniture.”